Tool for connecting and separating electrical connectors



Sept. 14, 1965 J. E. IRVINE ETAL 3,205,567

TOOL FOR CONNECTING AND SEPARATING ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS Filed Nov. 15, 1962 3 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOHN E. XRmNE BY Lmwo C. Osmmu MAMA *M Sept. 14, 1965 J. E. IRVINE ETAL 05,567

TOOL FOR CONNECTING AND SEPARATING ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS Filed Nov. 15, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 30m E. \RLHNE BY Lumo C. Osmnm p 1965 J. E. IRVINE ETAL 3,205,567

TOOL FOR CONNECTING AND SEPARATING ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS Filed Nov. 15, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 23+ INVENTOR.

(foam E. \R\HNE BY Luwn C. Osmmu United States Patent 3,205,567 TOOL FOR CONNECTING AND SEPARATING ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS John E. Irvine, Elizabethtown, and Lloyd C. Osman,

Sunbury, Pa., assignors to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa.

Filed Nov. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 237,998 3 Claims. (Cl. 29-203) One type of electrical connector is designed in two mating parts, each part being secured to an electrical conductor. The parts are designed so that they are joined together a number of times to make or break a circuit. A connector of this type is disclosed in patent application, Serial No. 722,000, filed November 5, 1958, in the name of Kenneth Arkwright (now abandoned).

It is an object of this invention to provide a tool for connecting or disconnecting a splice of the above-described type. It is a further object of this invention to provide such a tool which is simple to operate, has relatively few movabl parts, yet designed to secure connectors together in a firm relationship by an easy stroke of the tool. Also, the tool is capable of easily disconnecting the mated parts without damaging them.

Another object of this invention is to convert a scissorstype, pivoted tool into one where the connecting and disconnecting motion is applied rectilinearly.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the principles of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the members which connect and disconnect the electrical connector;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken through plane 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, illustrating a pair of connectors secured within the members;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, illustrating the connectors being urged into reverse position from that shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded view of a connector prior to engagement;

FIGURE 7 is a View similar to FIGURE 2 showing an alternative embodiment; and

FIGURES 8 and 9 are sectional views illustrating the action of the embodiment of FIGURE 7.

As shown in FIGURE 1, a common type of scissorsaction tool, generally designated 10, includes a pair of handles 12 and 14 secured by a pivot member 16, so that jaws 18 and 20 rotate arcurately by opening or closing the handles 12 and 14.

The connector assembly and disassembly means (FIG- URE 2) comprises a pair of relatively slidable members 24 and 26. The assembly/disassembly member 24 includes a flat plate 28 having an elongated slot 30 and a hole 31 therein. A finger-like member 32 extends laterally from the plate 28, and a second finger-like member 3,205,567 Patented Sept. 14, 1965 ice 34 extends laterally from the other end of the plate in a direction which is opposite to the finger member 32.

Half of the assembly/disassembly member 26 is identical with the assembly/disassembly member 24. This half includes a plate-like member 36 having a slot 38 therein, and a finger means 40 projecting therefrom in the same direction as the finger member 32 on plate 28.

The other half of the assembly/disassembly member 36 is somewhat more complex. A fourth finger member 42, which extends in the same direction as the finger member 34, is secured to the plate 36 by a right-angle member. The right-angle member includes a pair of right-angled surfaces 44 and 50. One surface 44 is at a right-angle to the finger member 42 and has an aperture 48 extending thereto. The other surface 50 of the right-angle member is also at a right-angle to the plate 36 and extends in the same direction as the finger 42. While the finger 42 and the plate 36 are approximately the same Width as the assembly/disassembly means 28, the right-angle member is somewhat narrower, being slightly less than the width of the slot 30 in the assembly/disassembly means.

The assembly/disassembly members 26 and 28 are fitted together by rotating the member 36 ninety degree from the position shown in FIGURE 2, and inserting the finger member 42 in the plate 28, the plate 36 is again rotated to the position shown in FIGURE 2, and the right angle member projects into the slot 30 until the members 24 and 26 are parallel. A bearing pin 52 is inserted into th aperture 48, and the slot 30 is staked to the jaw 18 (FIGURE 3). A second bearing pin 54 is inserted into the hole 31 of the plate 28, through the jaw 20, aligned with the slot 38 in the plate 36. This is also staked into position so that the members 24 and 26 are secured to the jaws 18 and 20. The members 24 and 26 are free to pivot about pins 52 and 54. It is noted that all the finger members have a half-round opening in their free end to match an abutment on the connector.

A typical connector, as shown in FIGURE 6, is secured to a pair of conductors C, C for joining them in electrical conductive relationship. One connector has a central pin 60 which is secured to the conductor C, and the other conductor has a central metal shell 62 which is secured to the other conductor C. A central portion 64 is adapted to fit in the half-round openings of the finger members with abutting means 66 and 68 located on either side thereof. The other conductor has a central portion 70, also adapted to fit into the half-round opening, with abutting means 72 and 74 on opposed sides.

As shown in FIGURE 4, when it is desired to connect a pair of conductors C, C together, the central portions 64 and 70 are inserted into half-round portions of finger members 42 and 34 respectively. Initially the handles 12 and 14 are in the open position. Closing the handles causes the jaws 18 and 20 to drive the finger members 42 and 34 toward each other so that the finger member 42 bears against abutment means 74 on the connector, and finger member 34 bears against abutment means 66 on the other half of the connector to cause the pin 60 and shell 62 to be driven into tight engagement as shown in FIGURE 5.

When it is desired to disconnect the connector, the completed connector is inserted between the finger members 32 and 40 so that the finger member 32 bears against the abutment means 72 and the finger member 40 bears against the abutment means 68. The handles again are in the open position to accommodate the length of the connector. When the handles 12 and 14 are driven toward each other, finger means 32 and 40 are driven rectilinearly away from each other against members 72 and 68, thus separating the connector.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 7-9 com.-

to be aligned with the opening 41" in the plate 36'. embodiment of FIGURE 7.is similar in design and funcprises a three-piece, assembly/disassembly device. The

. intermediate member-24' is identical with member 24, in

cluding plate 28', slot 30', hole 31' and fingers 32, 34'.

A two-piece assembly constitutes the equivalent of member 26. This is comprised of a plate-like member member 36' extends a lateral distance, approximately equal to the length of plate 28'. A hole-41' is disposed in the plate member 36' at one end thereof.

The other partof the assemblyis comprised of a surface 46-with finger member 42 extending at a right-angle therefrom. An opening 48' in the surface 46'- is adapted The tion to thatshown in FIGURE 2, except that a pair of members 36' and 46' are bolted together rather than formed integrally. This design facilitates assembly of the device.

As shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, a rivet 52 secures the plate 46' and plate 36' to a jaw 18- of the tool. A second rivet 54' extends through the hole 31', the other jaw '20 of the tool, and the slot 38, to permit relative motion in the slots 30' and 38'.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art and various'apparently different modifications and embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. 1 The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying'drawings is offered by way of illustration only. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined'irl the following claims when viewed in their proper prespective against the prior art.

We claim:

1. A device for changing the spatial relationship of portions of an electrical connector including: a plurality of relatively slidable elements, one of said elements comprising a first fiat memberwith a slot therein, and finger means at each end of the flat member, said finger means extending in opposite directions at right angles to the flat member, another element comprising a second member having a pair of planar, parallel surfaces, connected by a transverse link, one of said surfaces having a width less than the slot in the first member and disposed therein, and means for moving said members relative to each other, whereby the movement of" the members drives the finger means in a linear direction.

2. A device for changing the spatial relationship of portions of an electrical connector including: a pair of relatively slidable elements, one of said elements comprising a first flat member with a slot'therein, and finger means at each end of the fiat member, said finger means 7 extending in opposite directions at'right angles to'the flat I members, another element comprising a second member having a pair of planar, parallel surfaces connected to gether, means for moving said members relative to each other, and means for securing said members to the jaws of a pivotally-actuated tool, whereby the movement of the members drives the finger means in'a linear direc- Hon.

3. A device for changing the spatial relationship of portions of an electrical connector including: a pair of relatively pivotal jaws, connector-engaging means secured to each of said jaws, said connector-engaging'means being interlinked and'relatively slidable, linkage means between said jaws and said connector-engaging means for translating pivotal motion into linear motion, whereby the pivotal movement of thejaws drives the connector-engaging means in a linear direction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS THOMAS H. EAGER; Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR CHANGING THE SPATIAL RELATIONSHIP OF PORTIONS OF AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR INCLUDING: A PLURALITY OF RELATIVELY SLIDABLE ELEMENTS, ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS COMPRISING A FIRST FLAT MEMBER WITH A SLOT THEREIN, AND FINGER MEANS AT EACH END OF THE FLAT MEMBER, SAID FINGER MEANS EXTENDING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE FLAT MEMBER, ANOTHER ELEMENT COMPRISING A SECOND MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF PLANAR, PARALLEL SURFACES, CONNECTED BY A TRANSVERSE LINK, ONE OF SAID SURFACES HAVING A WIDTH LESS THAN THE SLOT IN THE FIRST MEMBER AND DISPOSED THEREIN, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID MEMBERS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, WHEREBY THE MOVEMENT OF THE MEMBERS DRIVES THE FINGER MEANS IN A LINEAR DIRECTION. 